Overview

The Vascular Neurology fellowship at the University of South Florida Morsani College Of Medicine is an ACGME accredited fellowship and involves both clinical training in the management of all cerebrovascular diseases and stroke, and the opportunity to participate in clinically related research for graduates of an accredited neurology residency program. There are two positions available each year, and the training is for a total of 12 months.

Our fellowship training provides complete exposure to the problems of clinical stroke and other complicated cerebrovascular disorders, and clinical stroke research; familiarity with clinical trials and methodology; and experience with the most recent advances in stroke technology. Training includes clinical experiences in the outpatient stroke clinics, acute and inpatient stroke service, Neurological and Medical Intensive Care Units, didactic lectures, stroke case conferences, and journal clubs. Training also includes exposure to neuroradiology, endovascular neurology, neurorehabilitation, and neurosurgery.

We have strong collaborative services in Neuroradiology, Endovascular Neurology, and Neurosurgery. There are more than 1200 stroke patients each year with over 80 acute stroke thrombectomy patients per year. Our patient population provides excellent clinical and research base. The stroke service is involved in many research projects including clinical trials for treatment of stroke and stroke prevention and experimental trials of stroke recovery.

Goals and Objectives

During the one-year training, fellows will be expected to progressively gain the knowledge and skills necessary for the diagnosis and management of a wide range of cerebrovascular diseases and others that result in vascular injury to the nervous system. The primary goal is for the trainee to be capable of independently managing any type of clinical situation related to stroke.

The overall objective for our Vascular Neurology fellowship training program is to provide the trainees with the skills and knowledge necessary to:

1. Provide high quality clinical care and assessment of patients with various cerebrovascular disorders in different settings (emergency, inpatient, and outpatient), including diagnostic evaluation, treatment, management, counseling and prevention.
2. Management of critically-ill neurological patients, such as those with cerebral hemorrhage, brain aneurysms or vascular malformations, head trauma, brain tumors, and status epilepticus.
3. Work effectively with multidisciplinary teams oriented to the care of these patients.
4. Ordering and interpretation of laboratory and imaging tests in patients with cerebrovascular diseases and stroke.
5. Develop the capacity to pursue an academic career in the field of stroke and cerebrovascular disorders.

Fellowship Curriculum and Duties

Each fellow spends a minimum of 6 months on the acute and inpatient stroke service. The two fellows will alternate being on service, two weeks at a time. While on service, the fellow will participate in the daily rounds on the Neurology patients in the Neuro ICU and the inpatient stroke service. He/she is required to be familiar with all aspects of the individual patient's care, but may delegate case presentations to the Neurology residents. Our stroke service sees patients in the Neuro ICU in conjunction with the Department of USF Neurocritical Care. The fellow will be required to supervise and teach the Neurology residents. In all cases, the fellow will serve as an adjunct to the attending with responsibilities delegated as the attending sees fit.

The fellow will supervise the Neurology residents during Code Stroke calls during weekdays and nights and weekends, when on service.

While on outpatient rotations, each fellow will attend two half-day stroke clinic sessions per week under the supervision of a stroke service attending. The clinic will consist primarily of stroke patients (new consultations and follow up from inpatient hospitalization).

Each fellow will also spend elective months on Neuroradiology, Endovascular Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, Neurosurgery, and Neurointensive Care Unit. These rotations will take place during off service periods, in two week time intervals.
Hours of Work and Call Schedule

Generally, daytime business hours with night call (night call only when on acute and inpatient stroke service). Night call is 4 nights per week while on inpatient service and 1 night per week during elective rotations. Night call is from home with a neurology resident in-house. A stroke service attending is always available for back up consultation, and to discuss each patient with the fellow and to review the examination and neuroimages. The two fellows will share in the call pool but will strictly adhere to < 80 hour work week averaged over 4 weeks. Fellows will also have at least one day free of duty every week, averaged over four weeks. We expect the fellows to be flexible and in general, available to switch when something 'suddenly comes up'.

Research and Publications

We encourage supervised, independent or joint, stroke-related research during the fellowship. The fellow will be offered the opportunity to assist in the preparation and submission of articles in peer-reviewed journals. Authorship will be commensurate to the proportion of involvement in the intellectual planning of the paper and the work done in gathering and entering the data. Our goal is to have each fellow as a first author on at least one publication by the end of the fellowship, and to present at least one abstract at a scientific meeting during or shortly after fellowship.
Scientific Meetings and Travel

Fellows are encouraged to attend at least one educational conference during their one year of training. Attendance at the AHA/ASA Stroke Conference and the AAN annual meeting, where the fellows get an opportunity to interact with renowned Cerebrovascular experts, is advised. Limited stipends, within the allowable institutional maximums, to attend scientific conferences may be available through the GME on a competitive basis.

Supervision

The fellows will be directly supervised by one of the stroke attendings at all times during their inpatient, outpatient, or elective rotations. Feedback will be provided directly and immediately to the fellow by the attendings. In addition, our division meets weekly to review programmatic issues. Our division maintains an "open door policy". Fellows are encouraged to discuss their concerns, stresses, challenges and plans with any of the stroke attendings at any time.

Benefits and Salary

Fellows usually receive 15 days of paid personal vacation per year. We prefer taking one week off at a time, but longer vacation periods can be arranged if necessary. Schedules may be adjusted around the holidays or long weekends, if needed. Fellowship stipend varies depending on the PGY level. This is usually adjusted by the hospital on a yearly basis to adjust for changes in cost of living.

Application Requirements

Important Dates & Deadlines

Vascular Neurology fellowship position (PGY-5) is: July 1, 2022

All candidates interested Vascular Neurology fellowship positions (PGY-5) must apply through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will review all applications and invite the most promising applicants to interview. Interviews will be conducted in January 2021 – March 2021. Please visit the ERAS website for complete information about application, schedules, and regulations & the NRMP website for NRMP deadlines.

Qualifications

To be eligible for a Vascular Neurology fellowship program, applicants must have successfully completed or be on track to successfully complete an ACGME accredited adult Neurology Residency. (Adult Neurology program must be completed prior to starting the Vascular Neurology fellowship.)

Technical Standards for Residency

Candidates for Neurology Residency must have abilities and skills in the areas of observation, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral and social attitudes, as outlined in the technical requirements for residency.

Contact Information: 

Dr. Swetha Renati
Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program Director
Department of Neurology
2 Tampa General Circle, 6th Floor
Tampa, Florida 33606
Email: srenati@usf.edu or call 813-259-8577

OR

Diane Clancy
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Department of Neurology
2 Tampa General Circle, 6th Floor
Tampa, Florida 33606
Email: dclancy@usf.edu or call 813-259-8577